[reidjr]

Ottawa Via Rail lands to be developed
Last Updated: Thursday, April 8, 2010 | 9:57 AM ET Comments7Recommend10
CBC News

Shops, homes and offices could soon surround Ottawa's passenger train station.

Via Rail has selected Canderel Property Management as a partner to help it develop about 3.4 hectares of its 9.3-hectare property on Tremblay Road, east of downtown Ottawa, said Via Rail spokesman Malcolm Andrew.

"There is, we think, a great deal of potential that is untapped," he said.

Via will retain ownership of the property, but the "field is wide open" to different types of development, which could include stores, offices and housing, Andrew said. The result is expected to provide rental income for Via and also benefit customers, he added.

"There are not a lot of services in and around the station proper as it sits today."
Bus terminal possible

Andrews confirmed Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien had also written to Via to suggest moving the city's intercity bus terminal to the train station and that Greyhound had made similar proposals twice over the past decade.

"This is certainly something that the developer will want to have a look at and see whether it might fit into a larger development proposal."

He said it's a coincidence that the letter arrived at a time when Via is exploring development of its lands.

Canderel is currently studying the options and will meet with Via to discuss its findings. The company's previous development projects include the Bell Campus in Montreal and the Residences of College Park in Toronto.

Via has already done significant development around some of its other stations, including Winnipeg and Vancouver. This past January, it issued a request for letters of interest to develop the Ottawa station.

Meanwhile, the owner of the downtown bus terminal said he wants to keep that station where it is on Catherine Street.

"I bought it as an income property," said Stewart Robertson, who is based in Vancouver. "I didn't buy it to go turn it into a shopping centre or anything else."

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/04/08/ottawa-via-canderel.html#ixzz0kXHFaKSi

[Dado]

I despair... didn't VIA think to tell anyone at the City about this when the City came along proposing to change the transit system that runs through their property?

I guess that was like the Library people not telling the DOTT people about the location of the future Library, and then the DOTT people not changing anything once they found out about it.


Opportunities for integrated transit oriented developments... they just keep passing us by in this planned-in-silos city.


Oh, and I saw Peter Hume on the CBC TV news getting pissed off about potential high rises and density around the station... ooh, I mean, such a problem at a location with no neighbours for miles. This is "easy" intensification and makes perfect sense - no neighbours, no mainstreet to overshadow, no convent to block. Put in a 50 storey skyscraper if you want. Call it "VIA Tower". Sell tickets for elevator rides to the top to look down the Canal into downtown Ottawa. Whatever, be creative.

As I said, I despair.

[reidjr]

The council better wake up and stop fighting everything and work with these groups and make ottawa a great city.Just think they could build something like the cn toer that over looks the city with a resturant on top.This complex could be amazing with shops/resturants/hotels etc.

[Uhuniau]

Oh, and I saw Peter Hume on the CBC TV news getting pissed off about potential high rises and density around the station... ooh, I mean, such a problem at a location with no neighbours for miles.

I share the dispair. Across town, look at the Leadman and NIMBY brigade, with their pitchforks out about a high-rise project almost on top of the Carling O-Train platform.

This town sucks.

[Mille Sabords]

I share the dispair. Across town, look at the Leadman and NIMBY brigade, with their pitchforks out about a high-rise project almost on top of the Carling O-Train platform.

This town sucks.

Where are you moving to? Is it a place with no NIMBY's? Let me know because I'll join you. But from our Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver colleagues on SSP, I can hardly see how Ottawa's so much different in its NIMBY-ism. The disease has infected every city big or small right across the world.

THAT sucks.

[reidjr]

Uhuniau
Ottawa is no different then toronto and montreal etc.

[gjhall]

Uhuniau must be have been a track star in high school, because he can really JUMP to conclusions. :haha:

[Uhuniau]

Where are you moving to?

Unincorporated territory, ideally, when it happens.

[Uhuniau]

Uhuniau
Ottawa is no different then toronto and montreal etc.

Except two or three times a year, those cities actually get something done.

[Kitchissippi]

One thing that would be perfect in that area would be one of those ultra budget hotels they have in Europe like Formule1 (http://www.hotelformule1.com/gb/home/index.shtml) or Etap (http://www.etaphotel.com/gb/home/index.shtml). This is a niche that is completely ignored in Ottawa and in Canada/North America in general. I find it amazing that Europeans can travel to cities like Paris and Berlin and be able to stay in decent, clean lodging for less than $40 a night. If you've never stayed in one of these places, they are very basic but clean —kind of an IKEA-fied motel. Some of them you can book and pay on the internet, after which you receive a x-digit code which you simply punch in at the front door and the room door and you are in, and requires very little off-hours staffing.

[jcollins]

One thing that would be perfect in that area would be one of those ultra budget hotels they have in Europe like Formule1 (http://www.hotelformule1.com/gb/home/index.shtml) or Etap (http://www.etaphotel.com/gb/home/index.shtml). This is a niche that is completely ignored in Ottawa and in Canada/North America in general. I find it amazing that Europeans can travel to cities like Paris and Berlin and be able to stay in decent, clean lodging for less than $40 a night. If you've never stayed in one of these places, they are very basic but clean —kind of an IKEA-fied motel. Some of them you can book and pay on the internet, after which you receive a x-digit code which you simply punch in at the front door and the room door and you are in, and requires very little off-hours staffing.

That's definitely an interesting idea, and something that could work. It could also encourage people to travel by train more. Like in Europe as well.

[Uhuniau]

One thing that would be perfect in that area would be one of those ultra budget hotels they have in Europe like Formule1 (http://www.hotelformule1.com/gb/home/index.shtml) or Etap (http://www.etaphotel.com/gb/home/index.shtml). This is a niche that is completely ignored in Ottawa and in Canada/North America in general. I find it amazing that Europeans can travel to cities like Paris and Berlin and be able to stay in decent, clean lodging for less than $40 a night. If you've never stayed in one of these places, they are very basic but clean —kind of an IKEA-fied motel. Some of them you can book and pay on the internet, after which you receive a x-digit code which you simply punch in at the front door and the room door and you are in, and requires very little off-hours staffing.


Run, do not walk, to your local commercial bank!

[Ottawan]

A non-pessimistic post by Uhuniau?

I too think this is a great idea Kitchissippi!

Overall I think the VIA redevelopment idea is a great one if properly designed (showcase the interesting architecture of the station, and include some height please!) & supported by the City & other stakeholders.

One thing that confuses me, is where the development is supposed to go - I was looking on the city's e-map, and aside from the front lawn (mostly taken up by transitway), and the parking lots, there doesn't seem to be much space to their land (I'm assuming they only own the parcel that includes the station and the passenger tracks).

[Dado]

Well they own land south of the platforms where there used to be platforms and tracks. They also own the plot of land west of Belfast, north of the tracks, east of the east parking lot and south of Avenue L, along with the lands fronting Tremblay Rd on the outside of the semi-circle.

[toaster]

I hope this includes the land between the actual rail lines and Trainyards development (North of Terminal Ave.). That land needs to be developed, it looks awful.

[jcollins]

Well they own land south of the platforms where there used to be platforms and tracks. They also own the plot of land west of Belfast, north of the tracks, east of the east parking lot and south of Avenue L, along with the lands fronting Tremblay Rd on the outside of the semi-circle.

I thought the land south of the platforms was going to be part of the TrainYards development? (http://www.ottawatrainyards.com/images/img_siteplan_b.jpg) or is that just an idea put in on the site plan? The trainyards website shows something similar too (http://www.ottawatrainyards.com/images/future_site_lrg.jpg)

I'd like to see development of the lands outside the semi circle that Dado mentioned. Maybe even convert some of their surface lots, make some kind of shared underground lot.

[Franky]

I thought the land south of the platforms was going to be part of the TrainYards development? (http://www.ottawatrainyards.com/images/img_siteplan_b.jpg) or is that just an idea put in on the site plan? The trainyards website shows something similar too (http://www.ottawatrainyards.com/images/future_site_lrg.jpg)

I'd like to see development of the lands outside the semi circle that Dado mentioned. Maybe even convert some of their surface lots, make some kind of shared underground lot.

I'm also unclear as to where the development land is located. I think that some sort of residential/hotel (even towers) would be a welcome addition to the site. As planned, there is only office and retail.

If the land is south of the train station tracks, the site could be on the transitway (along terminal avenue) proposed by the Hospital Link / Cumberland Transitway Connection Study
http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/hospital_cumberland/index_en.html

[Uhuniau]

If the land is south of the train station tracks, the site could be on the transitway (along terminal avenue) proposed by the Hospital Link / Cumberland Transitway Connection Study
http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/hospital_cumberland/index_en.html

Great. Another eastern transit line that goes through low-density suburban landforms. It'll be, what, 2,000 years before there's anything running along the Rideau-Montreal axis besides the goddam number 12 bus, and it still won't ever be on time.

[jcollins]

I'm also unclear as to where the development land is located. I think that some sort of residential/hotel (even towers) would be a welcome addition to the site. As planned, there is only office and retail.

If the land is south of the train station tracks, the site could be on the transitway (along terminal avenue) proposed by the Hospital Link / Cumberland Transitway Connection Study
http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/hospital_cumberland/index_en.html

Ya Id like to see some residential/hotel in the area. But isn't there some kind of rule about residential within x metres of a railroad? Or maybe that's just here.

They should integrate it with TrainYards somehow (even if its going to be its own project) and have everything, retail, residential, office, hotel

[Franky]

Ya Id like to see some residential/hotel in the area. But isn't there some kind of rule about residential within x metres of a railroad? Or maybe that's just here.

They should integrate it with TrainYards somehow (even if its going to be its own project) and have everything, retail, residential, office, hotel

I don't know about the distance requirements - there are houses fairly close to the tracks all along Riverside - maybe not that close? All the CP hotels: Chateau Laurier, Royal York etc... were connected to the rail lines, though maybe not as close. The first story or two could be retail space adding vertical separation.

Yes, Trainyards integration would be good.

[eternallyme]

I don't know about the distance requirements - there are houses fairly close to the tracks all along Riverside - maybe not that close? All the CP hotels: Chateau Laurier, Royal York etc... were connected to the rail lines, though maybe not as close. The first story or two could be retail space adding vertical separation.

Yes, Trainyards integration would be good.

The Trainyards development was probably the most wasteful development ever in Ottawa. What were they thinking when they approved that?

[Uhuniau]

The Trainyards development was probably the most wasteful development ever in Ottawa. What were they thinking when they approved that?

The same thing they were thinking when the approved the Kanata Centrum, or that god-awful "town centre" in Orleans with the bloody drive-through bank.

[toaster]

What's wrong with an outdoor type mall? Some people like to get everything without driving around town, but don't like the idea of being stuck in a mall. And a Wal Mart in the center/east part of town was probably a good idea, although they probably should have went with a Super-Center there, imo. The no Grocery store at Trainyards is a bit of a turn off, I'm wondering if that will come in the next phase.

[Uhuniau]

What's wrong with an outdoor type mall? Some people like to get everything without driving around town, but don't like the idea of being stuck in a mall. And a Wal Mart in the center/east part of town was probably a good idea, although they probably should have went with a Super-Center there, imo. The no Grocery store at Trainyards is a bit of a turn off, I'm wondering if that will come in the next phase.

There's nothing wrong with an outdoor type mall.

There's a lot wrong with them, though, when they turn their backs to the street, are oriented towards private automobile access and do a poor job of accomodating (let alone being oriented towards) other forms of transport, and do not take into account the amenities needed by people who don't drive their own private automobile to do their shopping.

The official plan calls for less of this kind of thinking, but we keep getting more of it.

[lrt's friend]

It is particularly bad when you have to drive from shop to shop in the same outdoor mall. These bloody places are spread out way too much. That's why you are seeing the trend of stores selling everything and when it isn't there main business, the prices are inflated, because its offered as a convenience, so you don't have to drive to the other end of the outdoor mall.

Trainyards is crap. Went once, won't go back.

[IntoTheCore]

What's wrong with an outdoor type mall? Some people like to get everything without driving around town, but don't like the idea of being stuck in a mall. And a Wal Mart in the center/east part of town was probably a good idea, although they probably should have went with a Super-Center there, imo. The no Grocery store at Trainyards is a bit of a turn off, I'm wondering if that will come in the next phase.

I've got two issues with these types of sites in Ottawa, in particular:

- pedestrians are an after-thought: to walk from the north section to the south section of the Trainyards site, it's all parking lots and roads

- for most of the year, customers will drive from store to store within the complex due to the cold; some will drive even in warm weather; contrast this with indoor malls where people will generally park just once

In giving up the customer-oriented advantages of an indoor mall, stores gain the advantage of having larger signs to pull in customers. Woot.

[Uhuniau]

In giving up the customer-oriented advantages of an indoor mall, stores gain the advantage of having larger signs to pull in customers. Woot.

As long as the sign is in the officially-approved font, doesn't hang over anything, is parallel to the "street" so you can't see it from any distance, and doesn't consist of a cow on your roof.

[toaster]

It's no secret that the big box format has never been friendly to people without a vehicle, not only in Ottawa, but in every city. Furthermore, Trainyards is serviced by both routes 121 and 125, so if someone without a vehicle can get there. I've gone there by bus several times. And what's wrong with a little walking? People are too lazy as to walk accross a parking lot? Come on. That's ridiculous, and at the same time evident in our Canada's rising obesity rate. Also, I agree that big box/strip malls should face the road, but when your in an area were both sides of your area are as run down as those around Trainyards, I don't blame them to face everything inward. It is definitely the highlight of that area, in terms of aesthetic appeal.

[eternallyme]

The same thing they were thinking when the approved the Kanata Centrum, or that god-awful "town centre" in Orleans with the bloody drive-through bank.

At least those are out in the suburbs, not right near the centre of the city. But they are definitely not in the best places for such developments. Kanata Centrum was more poorly planned than anything though.

[Uhuniau]

And what's wrong with a little walking?

Nothing. But walking across parking lots and roadways is uncomfortable and unsafe, and walking past buildings that are set way back from the road is psychologically unpleasant.

All of those things can be avoided, and still accomodate the car people. But when the cars are put first and foremost, it is pretty well impossible to remedy the situation later, without flattening the buildings and starting over.

Also, I agree that big box/strip malls should face the road, but when your in an area were both sides of your area are as run down as those around Trainyards, I don't blame them to face everything inward. It is definitely the highlight of that area, in terms of aesthetic appeal.

Turning them "out" instead of "in" could have kick-started the process of eventually improving the visual appeal. (Ditto that god-awful "College Square" crap on Baseline).

Turning in only exacerbates the aesthetic problem. It's Greber thinking again; this so-called city is full of it.

[Uhuniau]

At least those are out in the suburbs, not right near the centre of the city. But they are definitely not in the best places for such developments. Kanata Centrum was more poorly planned than anything though.

Wherever they are, they are crap and the make a mockery of forty years worth of official plans that give lip-service, and nothing else, to the need to make the city less auto-centric.

It doesn't help that the city's own recent public facilities have the same flaws.

[canadave]

Nothing. But walking across parking lots and roadways is uncomfortable and unsafe, and walking past buildings that are set way back from the road is psychologically unpleasant.

Yeah, I worked at a place on Belfast last summer, and the walk to and through the Trainyards was pretty brutal whenever I went there. There's absolutely no accommodation for pedestrians, even around bus stops, and taking the most logical routes from point A to point B often involves cutting across landscaping features or dodging traffic. It's a terribly suburban design, especially given how close it is to the downtown core.

[toaster]

Although it fairly close to downtown, it's not the easiest place to walk to. I think that was taken into account. Anyway, there are sidewalks with the Trainyards development (http://www.ottawatrainyards.com/images/img_ped_a_lrg.jpg) and the areas were the Bus stops are, it is paved in asphalt. I think people make it sound worse than it actually is.

[jeremy_haak]

Although it fairly close to downtown, it's not the easiest place to walk to. I think that was taken into account. Anyway, there are sidewalks with the Trainyards development (http://www.ottawatrainyards.com/images/img_ped_a_lrg.jpg) and the areas were the Bus stops are, it is paved in asphalt. I think people make it sound worse than it actually is.

The pedestrian plan is basically just concerned with how to get people from the parking lot to the store. That's a pretty terrible plan.

[citizen j]

Until the city starts a concerted effort to integrate residential development and commercial/retail development, the problem of auto-dependence isn't going to be adequately addressed. Every square foot of retail space in the Trainyards should have multiple residential levels above it, and organized around streets, not parking lots. I realize I sound like a lunatic for thinking something like that might happen; call me optimistic.

[O-Town Hockey]

Until the city starts a concerted effort to integrate residential development and commercial/retail development, the problem of auto-dependence isn't going to be adequately addressed. Every square foot of retail space in the Trainyards should have multiple residential levels above it, and organized around streets, not parking lots. I realize I sound like a lunatic for thinking something like that might happen; call me optimistic.

It's called Lansdowne Live and look at the reaction it is causing. No one wants to move to an empty field near Riverside and Industrial only to live above a Walmart. OSEG is offering us the first decent integration of retail and residential that I have seen....ever and people are bursting aneurysms all over the place in the Glebe. The Via lands have a lot of potential given their proximity to downtown and I hope this is just the first draft of many (better)plans to come.

[Uhuniau]

Until the city starts a concerted effort to integrate residential development and commercial/retail development, the problem of auto-dependence isn't going to be adequately addressed. Every square foot of retail space in the Trainyards should have multiple residential levels above it, and organized around streets, not parking lots. I realize I sound like a lunatic for thinking something like that might happen; call me optimistic.

Whatever happened to building neighbourhoods, with grids or semi-grids of streets, and with a main street running through it?

The builders say no one wants that. The house prices in the Glebe, Old Ottawa South, Westboro, Sandy Hill, etc., tend to debunk it.

[Uhuniau]

OSEG is offering us the first decent integration of retail and residential that I have seen....ever and people are bursting aneurysms all over the place in the Glebe.

Not only that, but the same people who criticize Lansdowne Live for being like the Kanata Centrum, turn around and demand the "open space" and setbacks and parking lots and random angles that would turn it into.... the Kanata Centrum!

(Compare how the same people who want neighbourhoods with wide streets and boulevarded sidewalks and lots of open space and big setbacks, want them so we can be "like Europe", oblivious to the fact that what they have described is Orleans or Barrhaven, not Soho or the Stare Mesto.

The Via lands have a lot of potential given their proximity to downtown and I hope this is just the first draft of many (better)plans to come.

Proximity to downtown?

[jeremy_haak]

Proximity to downtown?

They're quite close by transit. Distance doesn't just have to be measured in metres.

[Uhuniau]

They're quite close by transit. Distance doesn't just have to be measured in metres.

That's not the sort of proximity (and even then it's a dubious proximity) that's going to make much difference to how the land ends up being used... certainly not in this place that has yet to get transit-oriented development right.

[jeremy_haak]

That's not the sort of proximity (and even then it's a dubious proximity) that's going to make much difference to how the land ends up being used... certainly not in this place that has yet to get transit-oriented development right.

Wow, you are a perennial pessimist. This is certainly a good place to try and get it right and fix some of the problems with the existing site. Let's wait for some plans before dismissing the idea.

[citizen j]

No one wants to move to an empty field near Riverside and Industrial only to live above a Walmart.

Maybe not for the price of a condo on Richmond Road. But drop that price enough and you'll fill the units. Price is everything.

[O-Town Hockey]

That's not the sort of proximity (and even then it's a dubious proximity) that's going to make much difference to how the land ends up being used... certainly not in this place that has yet to get transit-oriented development right.

It will make a difference in terms of the quality of residential they can build given that people would pay a premium to live (relatively close) to downtown. It is closer than Kanata, Orleans, Centrepointe, Overbrook, AND Westboro. So yes, it is close to where 80% of Ottawa's population make a living. I do concede that it's not the most desirable location given the surrounding neighbourhoods (if you can call them that), but it's got excellent potential for rapid transit linkage and is one of the few opportunities we'll have to 'start from scratch' inside the Greenbelt.

[Yroc]

It is closer than Overbrook.

Don't think so. Perhaps one could argue the same distance.

[Uhuniau]

Wow, you are a perennial pessimist. This is certainly a good place to try and get it right and fix some of the problems with the existing site. Let's wait for some plans before dismissing the idea.

Absolutely, it is. But "proximity to downtown" is not a factor at all in it. It has to be "done right" for its own reasons, on its own merits, and based on its own location, not some supposed locational advantage which doesn't actually exist.

[d_jeffrey]

Whatever happened to building neighbourhoods, with grids or semi-grids of streets, and with a main street running through it?

The builders say no one wants that. The house prices in the Glebe, Old Ottawa South, Westboro, Sandy Hill, etc., tend to debunk it.

Simple, the average suburban person doesn't want to have stops or heavy traffic near his house, so that means the builders do spaghetti roads with collectors.

Still, it stays the worst way to build streets and to have a cohesive neighborhood, since you basiscally need your car to go anywhere. Plus, it's really difficult to rezone, since the lots are not square.

Perpendicular streets should be mandatory for all cities. You can't get worse development than what is being built right now.

[Uhuniau]

Simple, the average suburban person doesn't want to have stops or heavy traffic near his house, so that means the builders do spaghetti roads with collectors.

Which generate worse (and, more dangerously, faster) traffic than you'll ever see in New Edinburgh or the Glebe.

Perpendicular streets should be mandatory for all cities. You can't get worse development than what is being built right now.

That doesn't stop them from trying! :koko:

[Dado]

Simple, the average suburban person doesn't want to have stops or heavy traffic near his house, so that means the builders do spaghetti roads with collectors.

Still, it stays the worst way to build streets and to have a cohesive neighborhood, since you basiscally need your car to go anywhere. Plus, it's really difficult to rezone, since the lots are not square.

Perpendicular streets should be mandatory for all cities. You can't get worse development than what is being built right now.

I don't know - I'm partial to a triangular grid myself - it has an extra axis of movement for better connectivity. It can be combined with a hexagonal grid for larger land parcels and less complicated intersections (trihexagonal tiling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trihexagonal_tiling)).

[Franky]

The pedestrian plan is basically just concerned with how to get people from the parking lot to the store. That's a pretty terrible plan.

I don't think this is a fair evaluation. Parking lots don't need raised medians paved with interlocking bricks. Most drivers are used to walking in the parking lot and bringing back their shopping cart full of stuff. Raised medians are no good for that - flat asphalt is. Walkers use the raised medians to avoid much of the traffic worries. Yes, there is still room for improvement especially connecting to Belfast. Terminal road is in the middle and is yet to be developed.

Someone else raised a point about pedestrian experience - being separated from the shops. In fact, the walkway is along store fronts (where the smaller shops are, you can even get doored just like on bank street) so there is no parking lot to cross when going store to store along a strip.

I still think that all is not lost for the development. Some strategically placed buildings and transit access could improve the pedestrian friendliness of the area.

[Dado]

Franky,

It's ridiculous to be discussing how to improve a site that was redeveloped in the last five years. This was an opportunity to get something done right, but, as usual, suburban planning principles were used with a few notional nods here and there to connectivity. In that regard, Barrhaven's Riocan Marketplace is better designed than this, since it at least envisages eventually infilling the parking lots.

Of course it's dumb this site was redeveloped at all - this land was perfectly located to be the new LRT yards but unfortunately the development was planned when the 2003 TMP was in force, which still envisaged a rapid transit system based on a BRT backbone.

[Franky]

Franky,

It's ridiculous to be discussing how to improve a site that was redeveloped in the last five years. This was an opportunity to get something done right, but, as usual, suburban planning principles were used with a few notional nods here and there to connectivity. In that regard, Barrhaven's Riocan Marketplace is better designed than this, since it at least envisages eventually infilling the parking lots.

Of course it's dumb this site was redeveloped at all - this land was perfectly located to be the new LRT yards but unfortunately the development was planned when the 2003 TMP was in force, which still envisaged a rapid transit system based on a BRT backbone.

I understand and share your frustration... and perhaps lack of vision and short sightedness prevails at city hall, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth an effort to propose improvements before the rest of the thing gets built.

It's not even finished being built, only the first phase is done and the VIA development hasn't even been planned yet.

[waterloowarrior]

Franky,

It's ridiculous to be discussing how to improve a site that was redeveloped in the last five years. This was an opportunity to get something done right, but, as usual, suburban planning principles were used with a few notional nods here and there to connectivity. In that regard, Barrhaven's Riocan Marketplace is better designed than this, since it at least envisages eventually infilling the parking lots.

Of course it's dumb this site was redeveloped at all - this land was perfectly located to be the new LRT yards but unfortunately the development was planned when the 2003 TMP was in force, which still envisaged a rapid transit system based on a BRT backbone.

The original planning that made this big box is a little bit older than that, around 1999-2001. Here's the staff report (http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/pdc/2001/06-28/ACS2001-DEV-APR-0016.htm)from the OPA/rezoning, a classic industrial land to "big box" conversion. The site plan (2004?) was rejected by PEC but I believe they settled at the OMB (not sure of the details).

[Franky]

The original planning is a little bit older than that, around 1999-2001. Here's the staff report (http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/pdc/2001/06-28/ACS2001-DEV-APR-0016.htm)from the OPA/rezoning, a classic industrial land to "big box" conversion. The site plan was rejected by PEC but I believe they settled at the OMB (not sure of the details).

Interesting, thanks.

"The applicant has also requested that a hotel be a permitted use in this zone and that there be no size restrictions to the size of restaurants or a parking lot. Given the proximity of the site to major roads, its isolation from surrounding residential neighbourhoods and the function it is intended to perform to provide goods and services, the Department is recommending that a hotel be included and that the restrictions on size for these uses be eliminated. Furthermore, a hotel at this location could serve people visiting and doing business with the companies located in the Secondary Employment Centre to the east."

Not sure why residential use was excluded from the re-zoning, any ideas?

[eltodesukane]

It's not easy nor pleasant to go to the Trainyards by bus.
And Trainyards is not connected at all to the Ottawa Train Station.